How to have faster loading times ?

[bovi]

XP will page out stuff it considers that it doesn't need at the moment, including the memory taken by applications, probably defined by the data accessed the least recently being flushed out. You can especially see this in large java applications you leave open when you leave the computer for a while, they will be grey for a long time while everything it needs is paged back in (grey screen of undeath).

The amount of memory being paged is affected by the amount of RAM you have available. For instance, using Memtest, you can see that when you use up all the RAM you have available, a small amount will become available again as more is paged out. In fact, to test the biggest part possible of the RAM you may have to overcommit, so that everything else is paged out, then stop and quickly use only the available RAM.

Ergo, having more than 2GB of RAM will make sure that any application or game that actually wants that much (RTW doesn't) does not have to page out the memory it may be needing at some time => better performance. I'd like an option to tell Windows not to page stuff out until more memory is asked for and not available, if anyone knows...

[Tellos Athenaios]

Okay .

We can all agree that 2GB of RAM would work wonders, especially with the latest types of OS. 3GB might be even better; but with RTW, or M2TW for that matter, it's highly unlikely you'll ever need it if you use the program conservatively. (That is, you just play and don't mod it extensively - in a modder's case you may want to run both the game and other applications at the same time which is seriously demanding.)

Also, if you just have been doing something demanding in terms of RAM, you may want to spend a while on the Internet (just load up the explorer - don't start actually browsing the web or something). By starting up a new, light program, you tell your OS to get rid of all the junk previously stored in the RAM - without putting as much/more different junk there. Hence, nearly all of your RAM will be available immediately to your demanding application; which will decrease start-up time.

Now you may wonder what other programs can be so demanding in terms of RAM that you have to do this. Well, there's all kinds of Office for example. Copy/paste a lot, and behold the custom lag you can create!

[Primative1]

I recently upgraded from 2gb to 4gb and it has made a definite difference to large battles. My system can now handle 6000+ troop battles with no problem, there used to be the occasional slowdown with 2gb.

[mcantu]

The thing with Vista though, is that it scales its use of RAM for background processes based on how much you have (its working on the premise that if RAM isnt being used, its being wasted). When I had 1GB, Vista would use about 500MB just sitting idle. Now that I have 3GB, it uses about 1GB when idle...

[shlin28]

I got 512mb RAM and EB works perfectly for me, thanks to a little software called CachemanXP.

I can use large unit size and high quality skin . I can have three full-stack army on the battlefield at one time, as long as nobody fires any fire arrows! which makes my game ctd almost immediately due to lack of RAM.

[Intranetusa]

The thing with Vista though, is that it scales its use of RAM for background processes based on how much you have (its working on the premise that if RAM isnt being used, its being wasted). When I had 1GB, Vista would use about 500MB just sitting idle. Now that I have 3GB, it uses about 1GB when idle...

Vista was made to run on at least 2 GB of RAM. Most computers with only 1 GB and vista would lag so badly that games were unplayable.


"I got 512mb RAM and EB works perfectly for me, thanks to a little software called CachemanXP."

How do you work cacheman? I only have the free version and don't have the auto-matic optimization...

[Starforge]

I'd like an option to tell Windows not to page stuff out until more memory is asked for and not available, if anyone knows...

Windows and garbage collection - you would think they would have figured out how to clean it up after all these years. OS/2, Novell, Linux all do / did a better job of it but /shrug. Maybe someday (though MS still blames the apps I'm sure.)

Edit - sorry just woke up and no coffee - I addressed something you weren't really saying. I don't know of any apps that will force it to keep things in memory.

We can all agree that 2GB of RAM would work wonders, especially with the latest types of OS. 3GB might be even better;

I plopped 4GB in mine for overkill and a quad which pretty much nothing is going to use for a while anyhow. Made me feel good though